Join us for the 2020-2021 Also-Known-As Mentorship Program!

Are you interested in getting involved with Also-Known-As?
Come participate in our youth or teen mentorship program. We are currently accepting applications for the 2020-2021 year!

Program Mission

The Also-Known-As Youth Mentorship Program is targeted to intercountry adoptees ranging in age from 7 to 12 years, or children in that age range of international adoptees. (Click here if you are looking for the Teen Mentorship Program.) The goal of our program is three-fold:

(1) to foster personal relationships with people who have similar life experiences.
(2) to develop positive self perception through role modeling and companionship with adult international adoptees and members of the minority community.
(3) to facilitate an appreciation of the diverse cultures and races and their contribution to the global family.

In order to accomplish these goals, Also-Known-As provides a safe and exciting opportunity for younger intercountry adoptees to be in a community reflective of their life experiences; to have discussions of issues faced by the intercountry adoption community – race, cultural identity, adoption, and family; and to become active participants in the community through various cultural and voluntary activities.

Information for Mentees

For adoptive parents and our future mentees, this is an opportunity to become involved in a dynamic, young organization of other international adoptees.

Guidelines

Meets one Saturday a month from September through June;
A group of international adult adoptee mentors will be present at each of the events;
Open to children aged 7 - 12 who are intercountry adoptees or children of an intercountry adoptee;
Parents must complete an application and submit payment;

Given the state of the pandemic, we have made some changes to our program this year to adapt to the circumstances. This year's program will be split into two programming 'cycles' -- September through December, and January through June. The first cycle will be conducted virtually. Later this year, we will consider whether it is safe enough to resume in-person events for the second cycle.

We have adapted our fees to reflect the change in program structure:
- Fall programming cycle 1: $100 for 4 events
- Spring programming cycle 2: TBD
- Participation requires a family-level annual membership of $50, which is good for either or both cycles and also covers multiple children in a family.

Information for Mentors

We are excited to be able to offer this program to adult intercountry adoptees and friends of the adoptee community. We invite prospective mentors to seek this opportunity to become role models, to become a friend, and to be an enriching addition to a young person’s life.

Requirements

Be an Also-Known-As member;
Be at least 21 years old;
Comfortable and versed in the various issues around intercountry adoption.
Be able to guarantee a once a month commitment (3-4 hours on a Saturday when in-person, 1.5 - 3 hours when online) for the academic year, approximately 10 am - 12 noon for the Fall programming cycle.
Be willing to work in a group setting and be a team player.
Please email to the Director of Mentorship below if you are interested.

Contact Information

Lucia Zerner is the Director of Mentorship Programs for the fall programming cycle. Please contact Lucia for more information about the program or to submit an application to be a Mentee or Mentor.

Lucia Zerner was born in Hefei, China and adopted at 7 months old. She grew up in New York City, participating in AKA's Youth and Teen Mentorship Programs. As a child she was immersed in the Chinese-American adoptee community through Families with Children from China. This will be her first year serving on the Also-Known-As Board of Directors. She looks forward to being part of an organization created by and for adoptees that builds community. Currently, she is completing her dual Master's degree in Social Work and International Affairs and looks forward to graduating in Spring 2021.

2020-2021 Calendar

Activities for the Mentorship Program are scheduled for the following dates (all Saturdays), plus the annual BBQ in June: